Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Journey Through the Hoover Files: Presidential Correspondence

Did you know J. Edgar Hoover’s tenure as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)* spanned the administrations of eight U.S. presidents? Sifting through the Museum’s extensive Hoover Collection (donated by the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation in 2010) uncovered some correspondence between the longtime FBI Director and a handful of the nation’s commanders-in-chief (from 1933-1964): Presidents Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

In light of the Presidents' Day holiday, we thought these letters (and photos) were worth sharing. Every letter provides a snapshot that captures some aspect—if even a tiny shred—of the unique relationship between Director Hoover and the President who penned each note. Take a look.

*This includes Director Hoover’s time as head of the Bureau of Investigation (1924-1935), before it became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

1 comment:

Isn't it telling how history gets sanitized to serve an agenda? Hoover was a megalomaniac---the bottom of the barrel, character wise. His prime legacy is the double standard so prevalent in law enforcement.

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